New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-27
SUNDAY EDITION.
FEB. ~, 1887.

any effort made by himself to secure his own
advancement. lie had done nothing whateveo
to promote his first nomination, and nothin0
directly for his second and he determined now
70 follow the same course with the third.
lie finally. however, became extremely anxious
10 receive The nomination. In May went out
TO visit him at Galena but before reached THAI
place he had arrived at Chicago, at the home OF
his son, Colonel Grant At Chicago / saw him
constantly. either at Colonel Grants house, on
more frequently ut General Sheridan's heads
quarters; for his son was on Shendon's etatr.
l accompanied him a visit to Il. b. Wash
burne, and dined with him 40 the house Of Rus
sell Jones. his former Minister to Belgium. Both
these gentlemen were avOwed supporters of General
Grant, and In their presence conversation vaa
unrestrained and his prospects were discussed ~
freely they would have been before any 0thee
eXpectant candidate.
1t was now only few weeks before the con.
ventiOn, and Grant manifested as much anxiety
as ever saw him display on his own aceountt
he calculated the chances. he counted the deles
gates. considered how every movement would
affect the result was pleased or indignant at th4
conversion OF enemies the detection OF frfendss
Just as any other human being naturally would
have been under the same circumstances; only
10 was hardly natural in him. who was used I'd
concealing his personal feeling In all things u
course this freedom was only with his espcciaS
intimates, his family his old staff officers. Horace
Porter and myself, and q very few other tried
But that he disclosed his interest at all showed
how profoundly it must have stirred him.
had not met him for more than year. durino
which period he had gone through his wonderful
experience I'm the East obtained his knowledge
Of China and japan, and conceived an oriental
policy for this country which he believed 70 inn
pOrtant that a desire to achieve 1t was certainly
one reason why he was SO anxious to return "a
power. All who met him impressed with his
views in regard to those Asiatic countries, the
oh h.
developed, the trade we might create. the immense
advantage both they and we might receive from an
intimate understanding. lie talked very broadly
and with q knowledge Of the subject that made
him fluent and an interest which al times slmost
inspired him to eoquence. Once or twice he
addressed @ party of twenty or thirty men Of
importance in business or affairs and enchained
their attention for hours while he laid before
them his information and his views Mexico also
was a favorite theme, and Mexican policy was
already terminating in his brain As rule
do not consider that General Grants intellect
was remarkable for originality; he absorbed the
best points In the views Of others and condensed
out Of them his own finest schemes and successes.
making them. however, completely bis own pug
in these Oriental and Mexican measures he seemed
TO me entirely original. He had become pro-
found thinker and an international st8tosmap
during his travels. He had seen other countries
both the peoples and the rulers the emperora
and tycoOns and sultans, and the ministers ana
parlaments and the nations themselves; his views
were widened and his whole character enlargedg
but at the same time his national feeling ana hia
democratic preferences were intensified. lie waq
never so nt to be President as when his party re-
jected him.
am sure from what he said that he was CON.
scious of most Of his former errors In political
administrat on. and intended to rectify them he
was large and generous in his feeling for The
south, and had indeed become as popular In the
region where he fought as among the soldiers WIN
had followed him thither 1t was believed oY
his adberents that he would have poled o large
vote in the Southern States and broken down the
line Of . solid South as no man yet had succeedeo
in doing. OF course these surmIses, but ]
recite them because they affected him; and COM
sideratiOns of this sort were prominent motives
of his conduct al this time.
After stay Of a few days l returned 70 ths
Fast, and shortly afterward Mr. Russell Young,
who had accompanied Grant during the greater
part of his European and Asatic tour, went out "a
visit him. Young was opposed to Grsnts re-
nomination, principally, perhaps, because Ia
thought he could not be elected. He had long
and repeated conversations in which he repre-
sented the views Of those of Grants friends who
were averse TO his standing again. Mrs Granu
suspected Young's purpose and tried to thwart 1t.
and the discussions between Young and the Gen'
cral were carried usually In her absence. This
was only few days before the convention was Ia
meet Mt Chicago General Grant had even yea
made no outspoken declaration OF his intentons
use his name without objection, he could not In
honor withdraw it without their consent. Buo
Young induced him to write a letter. addressed 70
Senator Cameron. authorizing his TRENDS, IL they
saw fit, to withdraw his name from The oonven-
ton. This was most extraordinary influence
for any one man to exert with Grant. and knew
few parallel instances Young however,
doubtless appeared rs the spokesman OF others
whose opinions backed his own, though ms ndentY
and friendship gave weight to what he SAID. bue
the letter was sent in opposition TO the views OF
Mrs Grant and without her knowledge, and WAS
calculated of course to dampen the enthusiasm
and bewilder the cOunsels OF Grants most devoted
adherents. l can conceive of no step more un-
like General Grants ordinary character or De-
bavior than this halfway reversal Of what he had
previously countenanced. But IT was too late -
recede his friends had committed both him and
themselves and they not influenced Dy the
phase of irresolutOn which had passed o.S him
They made no use Of the letter. General Urane
Kept no copy Of it, nor did Young and those "a
whom ID was committed have never made 10
nublc Grant never censured them for tho
idelity that disregarded his suggestion OF With
irawal and al the remainder Of his LIE ne 10
NAMED more than grateful to the men VINO sup
ported him SO faithfully at Chicago; Just as ne
never forgave any who he thought betrasea MN
AZ that time He never ofterwaId spoke except
With bitterness of his lifetime friend, Washburne.
Who he bcliey ed, know not how rightly, played
him false: and he remembered the violence OF
,ome who supported Dir. Blaine with an aceroity
hat was not confined to them. but extended
90 his great rival. Even former followers VINO
lid not support him in the concluding poiiticai
,rort of his life never aftcrward held the same
,iace In his personal regard. His failure en-
uttered his feeling toward all who contributed to
This Remark, has no reference to Young. Grant had
allowed Youngs counsel. and in the end perhaps
rished that others had done SO too IL was ~ nh
,rgent advice that Mr.. Young was aftefwaru sR
,ointed by Arthur Minister to China
Brt though Grants disappointment was acute
+ ,yas NOT manifested with any loss OF dignity.
II =. world knows how soon he accepted acIese
md fell into line as follower In that party on
,,nrS,rtcd Mr Garfield, and though an ex-Pfesi.
lent attended political meetings and made poiitcAl
lcue "eeN - 90 tic man who aapired To the